The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-03-09

1t was carly evening The lamps were
beginning to shine out hero and there
and men and women who had finished
thor days work were hurrying home to
supper The door of neat little home
stood partly open. A man was near it,
evidently just starting out to begin his
work.
81 am sorry you have to go back to
night work, his wife was saying. She
looked pale and troubled.
$50 am l., he answered, "but never
mind, dear, perhaps it won't be long"
Ho kissed her as he spoke and went
out through the door. She looked after
hlm with her eyes full OF tears of he
should begin again, she said, ooh, if he
shOuld"
"Ntmma," called n tall, slender girl
from the room, "come and tell mo what
pattern to choose for fathers slippers; ]
want to commence embroidering them
tonight. His birthday isn't very far off,
you know"
Bertha and are going to club to-
gethor and get him that new book he
wanted, said another girl, evidently her
sister; eve heard him speak of it and VIC
have money enough"
The woman turned and went into the
holISC ultt SnuJ UllC uOOr.
The man went on down the street and
was soon busily engaged at his case,
away up i'll the highest story of tall
building
His fingers went back and forth, back
and forth, picking up the bits of black
metal, setting up line after line Of what
IN the morning would appear in the great
daily. Out over the city he could sec
the lights beginning to shine, and gradu-
ally the hum i'll the streets below him
grew less and less.
All about him were men working away
steadily at the bits of metal. He could
hear presses click, click, as they won't on
with their part of the work.
The gas ilared. Now and then one of
the men spoke briefly, generally some
thing about the work.
Some OF them went to their coats oc-
casionily where they hung on the wall
and drank from bottles in the pockets.
ono offered his to the silent worker be-
SIDE hm, but he shook his head.
What, called II gay young fellow
across the room, ''you given up the
bottle, Menson; what will happen next?"
The mon laughed.
The lights i'll the houses died out after
awhile, the noises on the street grew less
and less. The men went to their bottles
oitonGr and passed them back and forth
from hand to hand. Monson was grow
ing tired. Tic was not ms young aS lie
had been when he began to work ut the
type, and the smell OF the liquor came
TO nm as he worked and grew more and
more weary.
IIc longed Cor one taste, just one, "to
N ,,t -
when lad near him took the bottle and
began to taste the liquor he touched his
arm and said: "Don't, L began at your
age; wanted to be smart; don't begin. :"
But the boy laughed and drank.
The hours went by and the presses
clicked louder and tho noises on the
street grew less and less.
"liere, Mcnson,' said man, coming
across the room, "herc is some of the
best French brandy. Just taste it; |
know you are sick tonight; it'll do you
good"
81 don't feel exactly WELL, he said,
s9lZing the bottle eagerly, "lll taste it,
only taste il.
The fumes of the liquor had been
half-maddoning him, his old thirst had
been crying out to be satisfied. He drunk
as eagerly as he had seized it.
"That is good brandy" he said, giving
back the bottle.
The man winked slyly at the others as
Eo went back to his case
Mcnson worked on. He felt better,
he said to himself, the brandy had done
him good; and after while he asked
for another drink.
The man gave it and he drank as
eagerly as before. He had drank II good
many times by the time the last line was
set up and the men were making ready
to leave 1t was early morning now and
the noises of that early time in the city
were beginning to be heard.
Menson went to get his coat, but he
could not find it. Then he looked for
his hat, but he could not remember
where he had put it.
lie stood holding on to tho back of
chair, vaguely, wondering what he
should do about it, when the man who
had given him the brandy came up.
"Hcllo, Menson, he called out, "you
look as though you were getting up n
leader. Too late now for that, come on. "
Menson endeayorcd to let him know his
dilemma.
Where's your coat?" he said; he was
loud and noisy; "where's your coat?
Blest if l know"
ooh, here it is; let me help you on
with it. There you are, come on now,
the boys have all gone and left u.s."
They went over to the elevator 1t
was just coming up the shaft. Away
down below them they could hear the
engine and at one side the presses,
stamp, stamp, as the great daily dropped
away fresh and damp from their jaws.
"Come on then, now my boy" called
his companion, as Menson hesitated.
He drew him on, one bewildcred and
confused, the other hilarious and loud
The elevator began to move down the
shaft. Menson looked up and saw
door.
"Hero's place" he said stepping out
toward it.
His companion caught his coat. 1t
came of in his hand, and as he stood
wildly looking at it, he heard down be-
low him, something fall heavily.
The great daily had little item,
few lines crowded into its columns that
morning:
GgNUo roc,,oE ~ .,I.t, ~ 80 4